Joshua Simpson, who has lived in San Marcos for six years and works as a reclaim specialist for Adamson Brothers Design, said he is tired of residents being told what they can and cannot do on their private properties.
"My biggest concern here is property rights," he said.
Simpson owns a piece of property on West Hutchinson Street that is part of a proposed historic district expansion being considered at the City Council level.
He spoke at a San Marcos Historical Preservation Commission meeting in May, saying he opposed the expansion.
The commission voted unanimously in favor of the expansion, but the Planning and Zoning Commission in June voted against it, citing concerns that the proposed expansion was a way of controlling development at 500 W. Hutchison St., a property located within the proposed expansion area. That property was the subject of a 2016 proposal that would have constructed a 120-bed hotel, 164-unit apartment complex and retail center to be called Lindsey Hill.
San Marcos City Council postponed the proposal in July and asked for a historic resources survey to be completed in the area before voting on the proposed expansion. City spokesperson Kristi Wyatt said staff is currently developing a scope of the survey.
Joshua Simpson will run against Jane Hughson for Place 4 San Marcos City Council this November.[/caption]For the same reason he advocates for property rights, Simpson said he also opposes restrictions on short-term rental regulations.
Under the city’s regulations, property owners are allowed one home-share property, which must be used primarily as a residence.
"I think it's appalling," he said of the regulations.
Simpson said he also opposed the removal of Cape's Dam, a 150-year-old dam that has been damaged in recent years by consistent flooding. City Council voted in March 2016 to remove the dam, but Simpson said he is worried removing the dam will threaten the wildlife habitat and lower water levels.
In addition to working as a reclaim specialist, Simpson also works for Paddle SMTX and for a pedicab company in Austin on the weekends.
He filed his application for City Council Wednesday and said he plans to campaign in the months leading up to the Nov. 7 election.
The deadline to file for election is 5 p.m. Monday.
